Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 10–20 μm in diameter and 25–100 μm long
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Knowing typical cell dimensions helps select magnification, plan microtomy, and interpret microscopy images. Plant cells vary widely across tissues, but many parenchyma cells fall within an accessible light-microscopy range.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Typical plant cells often measure on the order of tens of micrometres. A frequently cited “ballpark” for many tissues is roughly 10–20 μm in diameter, with elongated cells reaching 25–100 μm or more in length. Larger sizes (40–80 μm diameter and >200 μm length) occur in some tissues but are not the usual baseline expectation across plant organs.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the common size domain for general plant cells.
Exclude extremes (very large or very small) listed among distractors.
Select the range that best matches standard teaching values.
Verification / Alternative check:
Calibrated eyepiece reticles or stage micrometers can confirm approximate dimensions in lab courses; many introductory texts illustrate similar ranges for epidermal and mesophyll cells.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing chloroplast size (a few micrometres) with whole-cell size; also, conflating elongated fibre dimensions with average parenchyma cells.
Final Answer:
The typical size is 10–20 μm diameter and 25–100 μm length.
Discussion & Comments